Polymers of vinyl acetate plasticized with low molecular weight polyesters

Abstract

Polyesters derived from the reaction of a dibasic acid, ethylene glycol and an aliphatic alcohol are used as plasticizers for vinyl acetate polymers.

We claim: 
     
       1. A composition comprising a vinyl acetate polymer or copolymer of between 55% and 100% of vinyl acetate with one or more ethylenically unsaturated non-halogenated comonomers and from 10 to 100% by weight based on the weight of the polymer of a polyester having a molecular weight of from 350 to 1500 derived from the reaction of glutaric acid or anhydride or a mixture of aliphatic dibasic acids of anhydrides selected from succinic, glutaric or adipic acid or anhydride with ethylene glycol and an aliphatic alcohol containing from 3 to 6 carbon atoms; wherein the alcohol and glycol components are reacted with the dibasic acids or anhydrides in the theoretical amounts needed to effect the reaction with the proviso that the glycol may be reacted with the dibasic acids or anhydrides in amounts ranging from 0-10 mol% below the theoretical amount necessary to effect the reaction to up to 20% in excess of the theoretical amount necessary to effect the reaction to up to 20% in excess of the theoretical amount and the alcohol may be reacted with the dibasic acids or anhydrides in amounts ranging from 0 to 50 mol% below the theoretical amount to up to 20 mol% in excess of the theoretical amount needed to produce the final product. 
     
     
       2. A composition according to claim 1 in which the acid from which the polyester is derived is a mixture of succinic, glutaric and adipic acids having the approximate composition by weight of 21% succinic, 45% glutaric and 34% adipic acids. 
     
     
       3. A composition according to claim 1 in which the alcohol from which the polyester is derived is n-butyl alcohol or iso-butyl alcohol. 
     
     
       4. A composition according to claim 1 in which the polyester is derived from 4 moles of a mixture of adipic, glutaric and succinic acids having the approximate composition by weight of 21% succinic, 45% glutaric and 34% adipic acids, 3.59 moles of ethylene glycol and 1.28 moles of iso-butanol. 
     
     
       5. A composition according to claim 1 in which the amount of polyester is from 40 to 80% by weight based on the weight of vinyl acetate polymer.